The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it is investigating approximately 150,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs that are reportedly facing sudden engine stalls and difficulties in restarting.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the investigation focuses on 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUVs, which are experiencing a sudden “loss of motive power due to electrical issues causing the engine to shut down with intermittent ability to restart.”
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 80 consumer complaints regarding engine stalls and power loss in these Stellantis-manufactured vehicles, all of which are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque hybrid engines.
Many complaints indicate that the engine shuts off unexpectedly, especially while the vehicle is moving at slow speeds, causing it to shift into park and apply the emergency brake, as stated by the NHTSA.
There have been no reported injuries related to this malfunction. The NHTSA has initiated a preliminary investigation, which could lead to a recall. Stellantis has confirmed that it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.
This investigation adds to a series of challenges for Stellantis, as brands such as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have reported declining sales in the second quarter.
Earlier this month, the government began a recall investigation into 94,000 Jeep Wranglers. Additionally, in June, the company had to recall over 1 million vehicles in North America following the discovery of a software issue that could heighten the risk of a crash.